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Bedroom Spring Clean: A Checklist for a Quick Deep Clean

I’m not sure who invented the concept of the spring clean or why it caught on, but if you want to keep a clean house, an annual clean is essential. (Annoying, but true.)

However, for most people, the bedroom is usually low on the priority list since kitchens, bathrooms, and garages tend to get a lot dirtier. But since you spend at least eight hours a day (right?) in your bedroom, it deserves a little bit of attention when it comes to spring cleaning season.

Note that if you don’t regularly vacuum and dust your bedroom, you’ll need to add these to the list (which means a bit of extra time, too – sorry!). The steps below also don’t include your closet, which, as I’m sure we all know, can take a looooooong time to clear out. That’s a task – and a blog post – for another day.

1. Turn the mattress (5 minutes)

This is a quick job that’s best done after you’ve stripped the bed. Simply rotate and flip the mattress. (Confused? Here’s a handy diagram.) Some say you should actually be doing this twice or four times a year – not just during spring cleaning.

2. Laundry time (30 minutes, plus washing and drying)

Sheets, mattress pads, bed skirts, duvets, pillows, and blankets – these ALL need to be washed. Linens can go into the washing machine, as can synthetic pillows and duvets. I’ve washed my own down pillows and tumble dried them, but in general, down items should be professionally laundered or dry cleaned, and you can usually get away with doing this every 3-4 years as long as you air it out (preferably in the actual outdoors) at least once a year. If you have a furniture brush on your vacuum, run that over the mattress before putting the mattress pad back on. (Image source: Norvegr.)

3. Dust those lights (30 minutes)

Lighting is often forgotten when it comes to cleaning, so be sure to give yours some attention. I dust mine (including the bulbs) regularly with an ostrich feather duster, but during spring cleaning, I like to wipe a damp cloth over them. Pay special attention to any bedside lamps as they’re so close to where you sleep. Tip: a small paintbrush is a great tool for hard-to-reach or delicate areas. While you’ve got your cleaning supplies out, dust and wipe down radiators and any baseboard trims.

4. Tackle the bedside tables (20 minutes)

Completely clear all items off the bedside tables or night stands before wiping them down. Then, before putting the items back, check to see if you can get rid of anything. My bedside table cupboard tends to be where I put hand cream tubes or tissue boxes, so it regularly needs to be cleared of used tissues or empty bottles. Set yourself a 20-minute timer for this task – it’s easy to get carried away trying to sort all the knick knacks you find. (Image source: Ferm Living.)

5. Wipe the windows (30 minutes)

Using newspaper and glass cleaner, wipe your window glass down, then use a damp cloth on the frame, window sills and blinds, if you have them (a damp sock is also a great tip as it’s easier to get your hand between each blind). Curtains should be laundered or dry cleaned to get rid of any lingering dust, but this doesn’t need to be an annual event – hanging them outside every other year, out of direct sunlight, is a great way to freshen them up.

And now, your bedroom is done! Getting into a bed with freshly laundered, crisp sheets is one of the best things in life – even better when the whole room is sparkly and clean.